If you’ve followed Hodinkee for any amount of time, you know that we are suckers for watches with exceptional provenance, and we have found a watch that appears to have had an interesting first owner. Currently on eBay is a mint Universal Geneve triple calendar with “CARL McFARLAND, WASH. D.C.” engraved on the caseback.

This could very well be the same Carl McFarland who, as an Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice, was reputed to be the mastermind behind President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1937 Supreme Court-Packing Plan, whereby FDR through proposed legislation would have been able to pick one new Supreme Court Justice for each Justice over the age of 70.5 years old, up to a maximum of six Justices. The plan ultimately failed, but McFarland went on to become President of the University of Montana and a professor at the University of Virginia Law School.

As we have previously said, UG watches were at one time considered to be in the upper echelon of Swiss watch brands, even sharing the same U.S. distributor as Patek Philippe. We want to point out that back in February, a different seller auctioned off a Universal Geneve Tri-Compax in 14kt yellow gold with “V.R. MESSALL, WASH. D.C.” engraved on the caseback, and the eBay description stating that the original owner was Victor Messall, a one-time top aide to Harry Truman when Truman was a Senator. The engraving style and size was the same.

Although on the small side at 31 mm, this watch seems to have historic provenance and is in extremely good condition. The seller is asking for $1,650 or best offer with the auction ending tonight at 9:30 PM Eastern. For more information, click here.

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Friday March 3, 2012

HODINKEE is one of the most widely read wristwatch publications in the world. Launched in 2008 by then 25-year-old Benjamin Clymer, the site quickly gained notoriety for earnest looks at some of the industry’s most interesting, and occasionally forgotten timepieces.